Michael O'Rourke: Moment in time captured at the World Series

Updated 9:06 am, Thursday, November 3, 2011

It must have been a chaotic scramble in the booth, and whoever edited the package in less than two minutes deserves a hug from every man, woman and child who ever oiled up a baseball mitt, dreamed of nabbing a foul ball hit into the bleachers or fondly recalls playing catch with their dad in the front yard.

Fox television had at least a half-dozen cameras focused on individual players, ready to record the last out of game seven of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals. With two outs and the bases empty, the St. Louis Cardinals were poised to win their 11th World Series as Texas Ranger David Murphy approached home plate. Jason Motte threw strike one. Murphy swung at Motte's second pitch and launched a long ball into left field. Allen Craig ran to the warning track, one-handed it, and the game was over. Craig's arms shot up into the air in jubilation.

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The live camera cut to the pitcher's mound in time to see Motte, his arms up, screaming with joy, as the rest of the St. Louis Cardinals ran to the pitcher's mound and tackled him. Confetti rained down. The stadium roared. Fireworks boomed into the air. It was almost as good as being there.

What was truly amazing from a broadcasting perspective was what must have been going on in some trailer in the stadium parking lot. While reporter Ken Rosenthal interviewed Craig, an editor, or team of editors, put together a brilliant video package that truly illustrated the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. Or in this case, pictures.

Fox had at least a half-dozen cameras on individual players, capturing the exact moment when each St. Louis Cardinal knew they were the 2011 World Series champions. The emotion was remarkable. Even more remarkable was how fast they were able to put it together.

Moments after the game was over, we saw the reactions. It started with Murphy's long fly ball being caught by Craig and Craig's reaction. Then we were treated to it happening again, but with the camera staying on pitcher Motte releasing the ball, reacting to the crack of Murphy's bat and following the ball with his eyes out into left field. Motte's face said it all. The next shot was St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina behind the plate, watching the ball sail into left field. He removed his mask in anticipation and then dropped to his knees, brought his hands to his face and then ran to the mound, leaping into the air to tackle Motte.

It happened over and over again. It was like a miniature version of Groundhog Day. The screen kept cutting to players watching the ball hit and their reaction to it being caught. We got to witness the ultimate moment when dreams become reality.

I rewound and watched the piece at least a dozen times. Those few minutes of quickly edited footage summed up the season, summed up baseball and, in many ways, summed up life. Everyone should have some moment in their life be so joyous that it deserves cameras recording everyone around us. I'm going to start working on that.